Apparatus for Controlling a Pump

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a controller for controlling a pump. The controller includes a sensor unit and a buoy unit. The sensor includes a base, a cylinder extended from a lower side of the base, a micro-switch provided on the base, a ferromagnetic tag connected to the micro-switch and a switch provided on the base. The switch is connected to the micro-switch on one hand and to the pump on the other hand. The buoy unit includes a buoy, a rod inserted through the buoy and a magnet connected to the rod. The rod is movably inserted in the sensor unit through the cylinder so that the magnet attracts the ferromagnetic tag to actuate the micro-switch when the level of sewage reaches an upper limit and that the magnet releases the ferromagnetic tag when the level of sewage reaches a lower limit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a pump used in a sewage tank.

2. Related Prior Art

A tank is often used to contain sewage. A pump is often used in the tank to control the level of the sewage under an upper limit. A controller is often used to control the pump. When the level reaches the upper limit, the controller turns on the pump to pump the sewage out of the tank. Installation and maintenance of the controller are however troublesome and time-consuming. In addition, the controller could soon malfunction after some time of use.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a pump with a controller that can easily be installed and maintained.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a pump with a reliable controller.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the controller includes a sensor unit and a buoy unit. The sensor includes a base, a cylinder extended from a lower side of the base, a micro-switch provided on the base, a ferromagnetic tag connected to the micro-switch and a switch provided on the base. The switch is connected to the micro-switch on one hand and to the pump on the other hand. The buoy unit includes a buoy, a rod inserted through the buoy and a magnet connected to the rod. The rod is movably inserted in the sensor unit through the cylinder so that the magnet attracts the ferromagnetic tag to actuate the micro-switch when the level of sewage reaches an upper limit and that the magnet releases the ferromagnetic tag when the level of sewage reaches a lower limit.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sewage tank equipped with a pump and a controller according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the controller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the controller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the controller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the control shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a tank 7 for containing sewage. In the tank 7, there are provided a pump 6 and a controller for controlling the pump 6. When the level of sewage in the tank 7 reaches an upper limit, the controller turns on the pump 6 to pump some of the sewage out of the tank 7. When the level sewage in the tank 7 reaches a lower limit, the controller turns off the pump 6 to stop pumping the sewage out of the thank 7.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the controller includes a sensor unit 4 and a buoy unit 5 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The sensor unit 4 includes a base 10, a micro-switch 1 provided on the base 10, a ferromagnetic tag 8 connected to a trigger of the micro-switch 1, a switch 11 provided on the base 10 and a cover 3 for covering the micro-switch 1, the ferromagnetic tag 8 and the switch 11. The switch 11 is electrically connected to the micro-switch 1 on one hand and to the pump 6 on the other hand. The base 10 includes a cylinder 12 extended from a lower side thereof. The sensor unit 4 is securely provided in the tank 7.

The buoy unit 5 includes a buoy 5, a rod 2 and a magnet 22. The rod 2 is inserted through the buoy 51. The rod 2 includes a slide 21 formed at an upper end thereof. The size of the slide 21 is larger than the remaining portion of the rod 2. The magnet 22 is located in an aperture defined in the slide 21 before the slide 21 is movably inserted in the sensor unit 4 through the cylinder 12. A screw 9 is driven into the cylinder 12, thus keeping the slide 21 within the sensor unit 4. A ring 41 is secured to a lower end of the rod 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the level of the sewage in the tank 7 reaches the upper limit, the buoy unit 5 goes up accordingly so that the magnet 22 reaches and attracts the ferromagnetic tag 8, thus actuating the micro-switch 1. The micro-switch 1 sends a signal to the switch 11 which in turn actuates the pump 6 to pump some of the sewage out of the tank 7.

Referring to FIG. 4, the level of the sewage in the tank 7 goes down as some of the sewage is pumped out of the tank 7. Accordingly, the buoy unit 5 goes down so that the magnet 22 releases the ferromagnetic tag 8, thus stopping the micro-switch 1. Therefore, the switch II turns off the pump 6 to stop pumping the sewage out of the tank 7.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A controller for controlling a pump, the controller comprising: a sensor unit comprising a base, a cylinder extended from a lower side of the base, a micro-switch provided on the base, a ferromagnetic tag connected to the micro-switch and a switch provided on the base, wherein the switch is connected to the micro-switch on one hand and to the pump on the other hand; and a buoy unit comprising a buoy, a rod inserted through the buoy and a magnet connected to the rod, wherein the rod is movably inserted in the sensor unit through the cylinder so that the magnet attracts the ferromagnetic tag to actuate the micro-switch when the level of sewage reaches an upper limit and that the magnet releases the ferromagnetic tag when the level of sewage reaches a lower limit.
 2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the rod is formed with a slide movably inserted in the sensor unit through the cylinder, and the magnet is magnet is connected to the slide.
 3. The controller according to claim 2 comprising a screw driven in the cylinder, thus keeping the slide in the cylinder. 